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USA-240
Launch of USA-240
Launch of USA-240
Mission type Demonstration
Operator U.S. Air Force
COSPAR ID 2012-071A
SATCAT № 39025
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type Boeing X-37B
Manufacturer Boeing
Launch mass 5,400 kg (11,900 lb)[1]
Power Deployable solar array, batteries[1]
Start of mission
Launch date 11 December 2012, 18:03:00 (2012-12-11UTC18:03Z) UTC[2]
Rocket Atlas V 401
Launch site Cape Canaveral SLC-41
Contractor United Launch Alliance
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Semi-major axis 6,766.01 km (4,204.20 mi)[3]
Eccentricity 0.0016500[3]
Perigee 384 km (239 mi)[3]
Apogee 406 km (252 mi)[3]
Inclination 43.44 degrees[3]
Period 92.47 minutes[3]
Mean motion 15.57[3]
Epoch 28 September 2013, 18:36:50 UTC[3]

USA-240 is the second flight of the first Boeing X-37B, the Orbital Test Vehicle 3 (X-37B OTV-3), an American unmanned robotic vertical-takeoff, horizontal-landing spaceplane. It was launched aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral on 11 December 2012. It is operating in low Earth orbit. Its mission designation is part of the USA series.

The spaceplane is operated by the United States Air Force, which has not revealed the specific objectives of the mission or identity of the mission's payload. The Air Force stated only that the, "mission will incorporate the lessons learned during the refurbishment process on OTV-1. As the X-37B program is examining the affordability and reusability of space vehicles, validation through testing is vital to the process. We are excited to see how this vehicle performs on a second flight."[4][5]

Launch[]

OTV-3, the second mission for the first X-37B, and the third X-37B mission overall, was originally scheduled to be launched on 25 October 2012,[6] but was postponed because of an engine issue with the Atlas V launch vehicle.[7] The X-37B was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral on 11 December 2012. The classified mission was expected to last several months.[4][5][dated info]

See also[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Krebs, Gunter D.. "X-37B OTV 1, 2, 3". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/x-37.htm. Retrieved 10 July 2013. 
  2. "OTV 3: Launch information". National Space Science Data Center via NASA.gov. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftOrbit.do?id=2012-071A. Retrieved 10 July 2013. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Peat, Chris (28 September 2013). "X-37B - Orbit". Heavens-Above. http://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=39025. Retrieved 5 October 2013. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 "OTV 3". National Space Science Data Center via NASA.gov. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=2012-071A. Retrieved 24 December 2012. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 Badger, Eric (11 December 2012). "Air Force launches 3rd X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle". AF.mil. U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. http://archive.is/2VlD3. Retrieved 24 December 2012. 
  6. Ray, Justin (18 September 2012). "Another Atlas 5 readied to launch mini space shuttle". Spaceflight Now. http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av034/stacking.html. Retrieved 24 December 2012. 
  7. McCullough, Amy (25 October 2012). "X-37B Launch Delayed". Air Force Magazine. Air Force Association. http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArchive/Pages/2012/October%202012/October%2025%202012/X-37BLaunchDelayed.aspx. Retrieved 24 December 2012. 


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